Washboard.



C. E. MANLEY WASHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 31, 1911.

1 ,9 6 1 3., Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

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WASHBOARD. APPLICATION FILED ocnal. 19w. 1,293,613, Patented. Feb. 4,1919.

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Fatented Feb. d, 19%

Application filed hotelier 31; 19:17., Serial No. 199,516.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. MANLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Maricopa, in the county of Kern and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washhoards,

of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in wash boards and it isan object of the invention to provide a device of this general characterincluding a novel and improved soap box which is so constructed-as topermit the soap to be readily and conveniently taken therefromespecially when the soap is wet. 0

it is also an object of the invention to provide a device of thisgeneral character having a novel and improved soap box which is providedwith meanswherein a drainage is afforded which is not liable to becomeclogged or obstructed and which also assures a ventilation to facilitatethe drying of the soap.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved washboard whereby certain important advantagesare attained and the device isrendered simpler, less expensive and other- Wise more convenient andadvantageous for ps iall as will be hereinafter more fully set iorta.

The novel features of the invention hereinafter be definitely claimed.

in order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-' panyingdrawings, wherein- Figure l is a fragmentary elevational viewof theupper portion of a wash boardconstructed in accordance with anembodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig.1; looking in the direction of the arrow Fig. 3 .is a longitudinalsectional view taken through the device as illustrated in Fig. 1; l

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational iew illustrating a soap boxconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and inapplied position.

. Fig.-5 is a sectional view taken substantiallyonthe line 55 of Fig.4:;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially 0n the line 66 of Fig. 5;and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in rear eleva tion illustrating thespring member co-actmg with the back of a wash board for maintain ng theholder in applied position.

As disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings 1-1 denote theside rails of my improved wash board connected at thelr upper ends bythe top plate 2. Said side rails 1 are also connected at a predeterminedpoint inwardly of the top plate or back 2 by the soap bar 3 whichaffords the inner or lower wall for the soap box S.

R denotes a rubbing board of any ordinary or preferred construction.

The opposed faces of the side rails 1 are provided with thelongitudinally disposed slots 4 occupying a plane substantially flushwith the rear face of the soap bar 3 and ex tending from the outer endsof the side rails 1 to a point substantially flush with the outerlongitudinal margin of the soap bar 3. The slots 4 have seated thereinthe marginal flanges 5 of the plate B which constitutes the-bottom ofthe soap box S.

The plate B is provided with the corrugations 6 extending longitudinallyof the wash board and preferably of a depth of substantiallythree-fourths of an inch. The lower marginal portion of the plate Bunderlies the soap bar 3 and is secured to said bar intermediate itscorrugations 6 by the fastening members 7 which may be nails, screws, orthe like. The upper marginal portion of the plate B is seated within agroove 8 produced in the inner face-of the top plate or back 2, saidgroove 8 conforming to the corrugated portion of theplate B.

The particular manner whereby the plate B is mounted results inmaterially large openings a rearwardly of the soap bar 3 which assuresrequisite drainage of the soap box S and also permits such ventilationas to expedite the drying of the soap within materially rolonged.

In practice the side rails 1, the top plate or back 2, and the soap bar3 are preferably made ofwood, while the plate B is of metal.

By having the corrugations 6 of the plate B of a material depth ashereinbefore specified, it is ppssible to insert a di 't of the handbeneath t e soap within the ox S so that said soap may be readily andconveniently removed. This is especially desirable when the soap is wetand when the hand of the person may also be wet. It is a well known factthat under ordinary conditions it is an extremely diflicult matter toremove the soap from a box of the washboard but with the presentinvention the removal of the soap may be readily accomplished irresective of the size of the soap ca e or its con ition. It is also to benoted that by having the lower marginal portion of the plate B securedto the under surface of the soap bar 3, the possibility of a cake ofsoap after becommg worn thin slipping into the tub or other container isprevented.

Itis also to be observed that the side rails 1 are of such a width as tohave their rear edges positioned outwardly of the corrugations 6 of theplate B so that when the wash board is in applied position thepossibility of contact with the plate B is substantially entireleliminated and which would otherwise ave a tendency to injurev saidplate.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7 I disclose a removable soap tray adaptedto be positioned within the soap box S of the washboard; As hereinembodied my improved tray is formed of sheet metal having one sidemarginal portion doubled upon itself to form' an upstanding side flange9 while the opposite marginal portion is provided with an upstandingflange 10 adapted to contact with the inner face of one of the siderails 1 of the washboard. The flange 10 is provided with anvoutwardlydirected flange 11 returned upon itself as at 12 and which returnedportion 12 contacts directly with the outer face of the side rail 1. The

flange 11., and the returned portion 12 thereof extend beyond the outerfaces of the side rail 1*- whereby a barrel or sleeve is afforded andthrough the opposite ends of which. aredisposed thev'end portions 14 ofthe wire strand and the extremities of said'end portions 14 are inwardland laterally directed as at 15 whereby t e end portions 14 are heldagainst rotation. The portionsof the wire strand immediately ad acenttheportions 14 are extended laterally as. at'16 to contact with theouter side faces of the rail 1 and the portions 16 are continued by theinwardly directed extensions 17 adapted to underlie the side rail 1.-The portions 17 are connected by the intermediate straight portion 18.I

The portion of the tray intermediate the flanges 9 and 10 is corrugateda ind c ted t 19 and the corrugations adjacent the top plate 2 of thewash board are of greater depth than the portions of the corrugationsadjacent the soap bar 3. It is also to be particularl noted that theforward end portions 0 the tray partiall underlies the soap bar 3 whichassures a rainage of the y tray and also permits ventilation to expeditethe dryingof the soap within the tray.

In practice it as been found of advantage to have the portions of thecorrugations immediately adjacent the top plate or back 2 aboutthree-quarters of an inch deep and gradually reducing toward theopposite end to a depth of about one-quarter inch. The corrugationsreadily permit the thumb or other digit of a hand to be engaged beneatha cake of soap within the tray' so that the soap may be readily andconveniently removed especially when the soap is wet or the hand of theperson also be wet. While the wire strand which underlies the side railPserves to maintain the tray in applied position it will also be selfevident that said tray is further maintained in position by the forwardend portion thereof which extends beneath the soap bar 3" as isparticularly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

From the foregoing description, it "is thought to be obvious that a washboard constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremelysimple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be assembled, and'it will also be obvious that my invention is suscetible of some change and modification wit out material departure fromthe principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish tobe understood as limiting myself to the recise arrangement and formationof t e several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention inpractice exceptlas hereinafter claimed. 7

I claim: a

1. A soap tray adapted to be. ositioned within the soap box of a washprovided with means for maintaining the same in applied position, thebottom of said tray being corrugated,'said corrugations decreasing mdepth from one end toward the other, said corrugations being of a depthto permit the'insertion of a digit of a hand beneath an article restingupon the bottom of the tray andextending across the corrugations. I V 2.In combination with a wash board including a soap box, a tray insertiblewithin said soap box and provided with side flanges, one of-said flangesbeing arranged for contact with a wal of the box, means carried by saidflange and overlying the rear face of the soap box for mamtainin thetray a aemia being corrugated, said corrugations being of a depth topermit the insertion of a digit of a hand beneath an article restingupon the bottom of the tray and extending across the corrugations.

3. In combination with a wash board including a soap box, a tray fittingwithin said box and provided with upstanding side flan es, one of saidflanges contacting with a si e rail of the box, sald flange beingprovided with a second flan e overlying the outer face of the side rail,and a sprin member carried by said second flange an overlying the rearof the soap box for main- I taining said tray within the box. I

4. In combination with a wash board including a soap box, a trayinsertible within said soap box, the bottom of said tray beingcorrugated, the forward marginal portion of the bottom of said trayunderlying the soap bar of the box.

5. In combination with a wash board including a soap box, a trayinsertible within said soap box and provided with a side flange, saidflange bein provided with a second flange overlying 51c outer face ofthe side rail, and means carried by the second flange and overlying therear'of the soap box formaintaining said tray within the box.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES E. MANLEY.

Witnesses:

M. Y. WHITE, 'I. I4. Bronmw.

